New congressman shares coffee, conversation in NSB visit

Topics ranging from airport control towers to veterans benefits were served up with a cup of coffee during a visit from U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis.

MARK I. JOHNSONSTAFF WRITER

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Topics ranging from airport control towers to veterans benefits were served up with a cup of coffee at Ruthy's Kozy Kitchen on Thursday morning, but U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis said none came as a surprise. More than 30 constituents came out to bend the ear of the freshman congressman from Ponte Vedra Beach between their bites of bacon and eggs or strawberry waffles. "This was an open forum where everyone was welcome," DeSantis said as the hourlong session wrapped up. "That is not always what we get in Washington." Hearing from his constituents was the purpose of the District 6 Republican's visit to Volusia County. In addition to sharing a cup of coffee with supporters in New Smyrna Beach, the representative welcomed the public to an afternoon open house during the grand opening of his Port Orange district office, 1000 City Center Circle, and during a town hall meeting Thursday night at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. "I would expect fireworks," predicted DeSantis supporter Gordon Meyer prior to the congressman's arrival at the West Canal Street eatery. "I am astounded what he has been able to get done as a freshman," pointing to his co-sponsorship of a bill to cut Congress' pay in the wake of the recently implemented across-the-board spending cuts known as the sequester. While that bill was popular with constituents, DeSantis said it didn't do much for his popularity among his fellow legislators. Fallout from the sequester was also on the mind of Robert Dobbelaar, although he was more concerned about aviation safety than the wallets of senators or representatives. "The federal contract airport control tower program is being held hostage to make it appear the sequester is doing something," said Dobbelaar, the tower manager at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport. DeSantis agreed, saying the sequester was targeted to be a political issue designed to make cuts the public would notice disproportionately. Such opinions gave Dobbelaar hope that while the congressman may not be able to do something to prevent his control tower from closing — slated for Sunday, and Congress does not return from its Easter break until Monday — he will make an effort. Disabled Navy veteran Vince Faulkner of Ormond Beach said he got the same feeling from DeSantis when he broached his problem about backlogs in getting help from local Veterans Affairs facilities. "I believe the congressman has veterans' best interest at heart," Faulkner, 53, said. "I know that he is trying." Another popular stand was DeSantis' support of term limits for members of Congress. Others included his comments about co-sponsoring a bill in the House calling for legislation before Congress to be written in clear, nonbureaucratic language, and that amendments to laws include background materials so the public will know what they are amending. "That is for transparency," DeSantis said. One place there has been little transparency, he said, is in immigration reform. He said other than select members of the House and Senate, the rank and file of Congress is not involved in the issue. "I have no idea what is going on," DeSantis said, to the apparent surprise of those gathered. "I have not been involved in that."